We provisionally treat Chaerephon pusillus as a synonym of C. pumila, following Simmons (2005). However, there is evidence that it might be distinct from C. pumilus (Hill 1971, Hutson 2004, Goodman 2007), and so the status of this taxon needs to be reviewed. If it is shown to be a distinct species, it would probably qualify for inclusion in a threatened IUCN Red List Category, as it is endemic to the island of Aldabra. We follow Happold (2013) by including leucogaster in C. pumilus. The species was treated by Happold (2013) under the genus Tadarida, but is now transferred back to Chaerephon.

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

This widespread species is found from Senegal in the west of its range, eastwards to Yemen and southwestern Saudi Arabia, and as far south as South Africa. It has been recorded from the island of Bioko and the Annobon Islands (Equatorial Guinea), Pemba and Zanzibar (Tanzania), the Comoros Islands, Mayotte (Goodman 2007), and Madagascar (Bouchard 1998) and on the Aldabra Atoll of the Seychelles (Hutson 2004). In Madagascar, the species is restricted to the humid areas of the island (in the north and east) and can be found up to 1,300 m asl. Its southernmost range in Madagascar is not well understood and it has not been recorded south of Moramanga (Goodman and Cardiff 2004).

The colonies of this species range from a few animals (between 5 and 20) to hundreds of individuals. There are no estimates of its population in Madagascar but it is thought to be locally common in the eastern zone. On Aldabra, the population might be fewer than 250 animals.

Bouchard (1998) indicates that this species is found in a variety of habitats from semi-arid regions in the north of its range to cleared rainforest regions in the south (Happold, 1987). It occurs widely in the savannas of Guinea and Sudan, and in the forests of the Congo basin of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is found in savanna woodlands in Zambia, and in the Cape Province of South Africa they occur in mountainous areas in the Cape Macchia Zone as well as in more arid open country further. In Zimbabwe the species shows a clear preference for low veld conditions and it is never taken on the plateau above 1,000 m asl (Smithers 1983). In KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, it is largely restricted to the Valley bushveld, lowveld and Coast lowland bioregions. Although the species appears to prefer forest or savanna woodlands outside built-up areas, its presence in built-up areas is determined solely by the availability of suitable roofs and buildings for roosting. In Madagascar, it is known from the eastern humid rainforests, where it has been recorded from buildings and houses. It is not thought to be a habitat specialist as it has been recorded in villages both near intact forest and in areas that are heavily degraded. On Aldabra the habitat is dry tropical shrub, it roosts in trees with a single roost of 30 animals recorded. Preferred roosting sites include horizontal surfaces of rafters, between rafters and brickwork, in the corrugations of corrugated roofs, between the roof tiles and the insulating material underneath as well as in air vents. In Madagascar it is often found roosting in buildings close to forests; however, this may reflect a bias in sampling methods. Natural roosts are hollows and crevices in trees, the crowns of various species of palms (see references in Bouchard 1998).

In view of its wide range it seems probable that this species is present in some protected areas. On Madagascar, it has not been recorded from any protected areas, but it has been recorded from houses close to protected areas. The status of the population on Aldabra need to be clarified with complementary research needed into the conservation status of this population.

Weber, N. and Fahr, J. 2007. Survey of endemic and globally threatened bat species in the Fouta Djallon Highlands for conservation priorities in Guinea. Van Tienhoven Foundation for International Nature Protection and Conservation International's Critical Species Fund, Ulm University .